The intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1887-1891, 1887-04-23
RAILROAD MEETING.
The Citizens of Higgfnsvflle and
Lafayette County Meet and
Adopt Resolutions Con.
ccrning Railroad
Legislation.

At o'clock, p. M, on Saturday, the
9th inst, the city hall in Higginsville
was we'll filed with representative citi-
zens of this place and from different
parts of the county, in pursuance OF
call issued about ten days previous.
The meeting was called to order by
Capt. A. E. Asbury, who placed Col.
IL. j. Higgins in nomination for chair
man, and the meeting viOa Uoce elected
him unanimously. Homer Luce was
made secretary. Col. Higgins stated
III view of railroad legislation that had
been considered by the recent session
of the Missouri assembly, their ad-
journment without passing all amenda-
tory, or new railroad law, the calling
together in extra session OF the legisla-
ture by Gov. Marmaduke, together
with the prospects of great amount
of railroad building contemplated in
this state, many citizens in this COM
munity had thought il best to call this
meeting in order to obtain an express
sion by resolutions and otherwise, as
to the best policy to be pursued in the
matter. Having made plain the OBJ
jects, the chairman declared the meet
ing open for business.
Upon motion, it was decided that the
chair appoint committee of five to
draft resolutions expressive of the
sense of the meeting. While the chair
man was making up the committee,
Capt. Asbury read an interesting letter
from Major j. III. Dowland, treasurer
of the c., Ft. s. & T. railroad company,
which contained very encouraging
news concerning the progress of the
company in locating their line south
west of Higginsville. The letter stat
ed, in conclusion. that Chief Engineer
Lee would be in this city by the Goth
inst.
At the conclusion of the reading, the
chair announced the following commit
tee on resolutions DR.. j. j. Fulker-
son, Chas. Hoefer, j. II. Campbell, Il.
Todhunter and j. w. Brown. The
committee then retired
Capt. w. A. Thornton, responding
to a call, made a splendid speech on
the matters before the meeting in
which he discussed freely the proposed
railroad bill, the extra session, the
benefits of railroads, and their relation
to the people.
After about an hours absence, the
following resolutions:
Whereas, Rapid progress has been
made within the past few years toward
developing the great natural resources
of the state of Missouri, thereby has
tening the period when it will rank
among the wealthiest and most impor-
tant states in the Union, and
Whereas, We believe the building
and operating of railroads one of the
greatest and most important factors in
the development of a country, and
Whereas, We believe that we are
entering upon new era of railroad
constructing in Missouri, whereby
hundreds of miles are about to be ad-
ded to our railroads, and thereby mil
lions of dollars to the taxable wealth
of the state, encouraging and promot-
ing labor and inviting immigration,
and
Whereas, His excellency, John s.
Marmaduke, governor of the state of
Missouri, has seen proper to convene
the legislature of the state in extra
session, for the purpose OF enacting
certain laws restricting and controlling
railroads, therefore, be it
Resolved, By the citizens of Lafay-
cite county in mass meeting here as
sembled:
1st. 1t is the sense of this meeting
that every patriotic citizen should con-
slider il an important duty to aid by
any and all modest and honorable
means, the efforts made to promote
the interests of the great state in
which we live, that it may speedily
take front rank for commerce and
general agricultural wealth, such as
| by its unbounded resources it de-
serves.
End. That we encourage and favor
railroad building in the state of Mis-
souri, as an important means of pro-
noting commerce, giving employment
/ to laborers, augmenting the taxable
wealth, and increasing railroad COM
petition, thereby diminishing rates for
transportation.
/ Sd We have reason to believe that
I several railroad companies contem.
plate building lines through the state
/ of Missouri within the present year,
and in view of the extent and import
ance of these railroad enterprises, we
deprecate any attempt to enact such
extreme laws by state legislation as
will hold in check, or perhaps prevent,
the building of these valuable com.
mercial highways.
4th. While we recognize the righ
of our legislature to enact laws for the
regulation and cOntro, of railroad: